Francine Beatriz Prades. Photo from Commission on Filipinos Overseas.
The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) intensified efforts to turn temporary international exchanges into long-term benefits for the Philippines.
The agency highlighted the return of geologist Francine Beatriz Prades from a J-1 Exchange residency in the United States as a successful example of “brain gain.”
Prades participated in the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative Civic Engagement Fellowship to study how science can be applied to community programs.
She said she had applied to the program since 2018 and initially focused on the environmental sector before shifting to civic engagement this year.
As the secretariat for the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program, the CFO ensures that Filipinos abroad are protected and encouraged to return to contribute their skills at home.
The agency said the program helps transfer technology and civic strategies from international experiences to local communities.
CFO officials added that returning participants serve as models for how the Filipino diaspora can contribute to innovation rather than merely sending remittances.
The commission works to strengthen social, economic, and cultural ties for Filipinos abroad, including permanent migrants, dual citizens, exchange participants, and descendants overseas.